Colorado Marshall Fire Aftermath

A Colorado-based pilot captured the surreal scene of snowfall on a burned-out town.

The Colorado Marshall Fire, which destroyed nearly 1,000 homes in the Colorado foothill communities of Superior and Louisville, was stoked by nearly 100 mph winds, feeding a fire that raged so fast there was little that firefighters could do combat it. Two days later, 10 inches of snow fell on the area, making for a surreal scene of devastation. 

Longtime Plane & Pilot contributor Steve Zimmermann, flying in his Bonanza A36, captured this rarely seen view of the aftermath. Zimmerman in recent days has also photographed much less tragic landscapes, which we will share at a later date.

The toll, while catastrophic for homeowners whose dwellings were lost, has claimed just two lives. An estimated 35,000 people successfully evacuated from the area.

The fire is thought to have been sparked by a small blaze miles away from where it would eventually consume so many homes.

---

Miss last week's Photo of the Week? Click here: The Year 2021 In Images: Our Top 15 Photos Of The Week

A commercial pilot, editor-in-Chief Isabel Goyer has been flying for more than 40 years, with hundreds of different aircraft in her logbook and thousands of hours. An award-winning aviation writer, photographer and editor, Ms. Goyer led teams at Sport Pilot, Air Progress and Flying before coming to Plane & Pilot in 2015.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get the latest Plane & Pilot Magazine stories delivered directly to your inbox

Subscribe to our newsletter